EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State women's tennis battled but could not hold No. 34 Illinois at bay, falling to the Fighting Illini 4-0 at the Atkins Tennis Center on Friday night. With the loss, the Spartans move to 8-9 (1-5 Big Ten) on the season while the Fighting Illini improve to 12-5 (4-0 Big Ten).
In doubles, the Spartans would strike first at No. 3 slot with the pairing of Issey Purser and Nicole Conard earning their fourth-straight doubles win in a 6-4 decision over Illinois' Kida Ferrari and Violeta Martinez to give MSU an early advantage. Illinois would storm back, however, taking the doubles point in dramatic fashion. At No. 1 doubles, Illinois' No. 28 duo of Katherine Duong and Megan Heuser defeated MSU's Ayshe Can and Liisa Vehvilainen, 7-5, while at No. 2 doubles, MSU's Marley Lambert and Dagmar Zdrubecka fell in a tiebreak to the pairing of Josie Frazier and Emily Casati, 7-6 (1).
In singles, the Spartans would continue to battle but found themselves down quickly as Illinois pounced on the board with two quick singles wins. At No. 5 singles, Conard dropped a hard-fought contest against Illinois' Kasia Treiber, 0-6, 3-6 as Illinois doubles its lead. In a daunting match at No. 2 singles, MSU's Can could not overcome a second set deficit, falling 6-0, 6-4 to Illinois' No. 121 Ashley Yeah as the Fighting Illini took a 3-0 lead.
Illinois would clinch the match in a contested battle at No. 3 singles as MSU's Lambert could not complete the comeback, falling to Illinois' Heuser, 6-2, 6-3, as the Fighting Illini rode out 4-0 victors at home.
Before the clinch, the Spartans were ahead at No. 4 and No. 6 singles as Purser and freshman Juliette Nask had one-set leads in their respective matches. Purser was leading UI's Frazier 6-3, 2-2 at the No. 4 slot, while at the No. 6 position, Nask was winning 6-2, 2-3 before play was suspended. At No. 1 singles, Vehvilainen was entrenched in a close battle with UI's Duong with the Fighting Illini up 7-6 (3), 1-1 before the match was halted.
UP NEXT
Michigan State continues its Illinois trip by taking on Northwestern on Sunday, April 2 in Evanston, Illinois. First serve against the Wildcats is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
RESULTS
SINGLES
1. Kate Duong (ILL) vs. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU) 7-6 (7-3), 1-1, unfinished
2. #121 Ashley Yeah (ILL) def. Ayshe Can (MSU) 6-0, 6-4
3. Megan Heuser (ILL) def. Marley Lambert (MSU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Josie Frazier (ILL) vs. Issey Purser (MSU) 3-6, 2-2, unfinished
5. Kasia Treiber (ILL) def. Nicole Conard (MSU) 6-0, 6-3
6. Kida Ferrari (ILL) vs. Juliette Nask (MSU) 2-6, 3-2, unfinished
DOUBLES
1. #28 Kate Duong/Megan Heuser (ILL) def. Liisa Vehvilainen/Ayshe Can (MSU) 7-5
2. Josie Frazier/Emily Casati (ILL) def. Marley Lambert/Dagmar Zdrubecka (MSU) 7-6 (7-1)
3. Issey Purser/Nicole Conard (MSU) def. Kida Ferrari/Violeta Martinez (ILL) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,2,3)
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In doubles, the Spartans would strike first at No. 3 slot with the pairing of Issey Purser and Nicole Conard earning their fourth-straight doubles win in a 6-4 decision over Illinois' Kida Ferrari and Violeta Martinez to give MSU an early advantage. Illinois would storm back, however, taking the doubles point in dramatic fashion. At No. 1 doubles, Illinois' No. 28 duo of Katherine Duong and Megan Heuser defeated MSU's Ayshe Can and Liisa Vehvilainen, 7-5, while at No. 2 doubles, MSU's Marley Lambert and Dagmar Zdrubecka fell in a tiebreak to the pairing of Josie Frazier and Emily Casati, 7-6 (1).
In singles, the Spartans would continue to battle but found themselves down quickly as Illinois pounced on the board with two quick singles wins. At No. 5 singles, Conard dropped a hard-fought contest against Illinois' Kasia Treiber, 0-6, 3-6 as Illinois doubles its lead. In a daunting match at No. 2 singles, MSU's Can could not overcome a second set deficit, falling 6-0, 6-4 to Illinois' No. 121 Ashley Yeah as the Fighting Illini took a 3-0 lead.
Illinois would clinch the match in a contested battle at No. 3 singles as MSU's Lambert could not complete the comeback, falling to Illinois' Heuser, 6-2, 6-3, as the Fighting Illini rode out 4-0 victors at home.
Before the clinch, the Spartans were ahead at No. 4 and No. 6 singles as Purser and freshman Juliette Nask had one-set leads in their respective matches. Purser was leading UI's Frazier 6-3, 2-2 at the No. 4 slot, while at the No. 6 position, Nask was winning 6-2, 2-3 before play was suspended. At No. 1 singles, Vehvilainen was entrenched in a close battle with UI's Duong with the Fighting Illini up 7-6 (3), 1-1 before the match was halted.
UP NEXT
Michigan State continues its Illinois trip by taking on Northwestern on Sunday, April 2 in Evanston, Illinois. First serve against the Wildcats is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
RESULTS
SINGLES
1. Kate Duong (ILL) vs. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU) 7-6 (7-3), 1-1, unfinished
2. #121 Ashley Yeah (ILL) def. Ayshe Can (MSU) 6-0, 6-4
3. Megan Heuser (ILL) def. Marley Lambert (MSU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Josie Frazier (ILL) vs. Issey Purser (MSU) 3-6, 2-2, unfinished
5. Kasia Treiber (ILL) def. Nicole Conard (MSU) 6-0, 6-3
6. Kida Ferrari (ILL) vs. Juliette Nask (MSU) 2-6, 3-2, unfinished
DOUBLES
1. #28 Kate Duong/Megan Heuser (ILL) def. Liisa Vehvilainen/Ayshe Can (MSU) 7-5
2. Josie Frazier/Emily Casati (ILL) def. Marley Lambert/Dagmar Zdrubecka (MSU) 7-6 (7-1)
3. Issey Purser/Nicole Conard (MSU) def. Kida Ferrari/Violeta Martinez (ILL) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,2,3)
Women's Tennis Clipped by #34 Illinois - Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State women's tennis battled but could not hold No. 34 Illinois at bay, falling to the Fighting Illini 4-0 at the Atkins Tennis Center on Friday night.
msuspartans.com
